Signs of hope in employment picture

September brought the lowest national unemployment rate in nearly four years, as 114,000 jobs were added to economy.

James Walsh

September brought the lowest national unemployment rate in nearly four years, as 114,000 jobs were added to economy.

Unemployment dropped to 7.8 from 8.1 percent in August, as the number of people employed rose by 873,000. There are 12.1 million unemployed Americans, the fewest since January 2009.

The federal Labor Department also said the economy created 86,000 more jobs in July and August than it initially reported.

Revisions showed federal, state and local governments added 63,000 jobs in July and August, compared with earlier estimates showing losses.

Leading in September were 44,000 jobs added in the health-care industry. Transportation and warehousing also showed large gains.

Overall growth has been slow but steady, with jobs added for 24 straight months.

"I think people know we're in an ongoing recovery, and they expect it to be ongoing," said Vassar College economist David Kennett. "This (period) is the most severe shock to the economy since the 1930s."

Kennett cheered a continued rise in home construction, which should bring business to related industries such as appliance manufacturers.

Among the unemployed is Paul Young of Bloomingburg, whose job was eliminated seven months ago.

"I'm a graphic artist by trade," Young said Wednesday at a job fair run by Orange Works and Honor Industries in Middletown. "I was working at West Point for the Department of Defense and they had to cut their budget. I was there 11 years."

Retailers seeking seasonal help were also among the employers represented at the job fair.

Karen Voelker of Middletown was applying to Crystal Run Healthcare and Occupations Inc. Voelker said she was laid off in April as a clerk for BlueCross BlueShield.